Lab Rat

Wii Fit gets (sort of) serious about exercise.

When the Wii Fit, the Nintendo video game, told me my "fit age" was 41-a decade older than I actually am-I took it personally. After all, I run 20 miles a week and weight train twice a week. As I stood on its wireless balance board, Wii Fit gauged my BMI and had me perform stability tests. Though I was a half-pound underweight, my balance scores were apparently pathetic enough to age me. So I tackled Wii's fitness games for a week. Here's what I learned.

The Routine: Four poses initially. Master these, and 11 more are "unlocked."Best For: Stretching slackersPros: My tight hamstrings could certainly benefit from yoga, if I had the time and courage. With the Wii, I was able to confidently work on my poses in private. And because the four-pose routine lasted only 10 minutes, I did it five days a week.Cons: My den isn't exactly Zen, so it was easy to get distracted. And I have to think doing Warrior I with one leg elevated on the board would appall yoga traditionalists. After a week, I was bored with the same poses-and you do them one at a time, without the flow of a normal yoga routine.

The Routine: Choose from nine workouts, lasting up to 30 minutesBest For: Cross-trainingPros: Of the games (jogging, dancing, step aerobics, etc.), boxing was my favorite. I burned some calories-and some steam.Cons: Running in place in front of my TV was torture. I could never stand it long enough to get in any semblance of a legit training run.

Score: 2 stars

Balance

The Routine: Four initial exercises; five advanced availableBest For: Improving posture and overall body alignmentPros: Heading soccer balls, walking on a tightrope, and weaving down a ski course were fun ways to hone motor skills. Plus, the Wii gave specific feedback-I favor my right side and lean forward slightly. My balance scores shot up after a half hour of practice.Cons: While the games kept me entertained for a week, I imagine I'd soon be sick of them and the postworkout evaluations by the virtual trainer who has a revolving script of tiresome one-liners.

Score: 4 stars

Strength

The Routine: Five initial exercises; 10 advanced availableBest For: Starting a strength-training routinePros: This category has the best variety of activities, ranging from push-ups to lunges.Cons: Wii sends you back to the main menu after doing only one set when I could've easily banged out two or three sets. And it's a far cry from a living, breathing trainer. The Wii gives you the basics, but it's not customized to your individual needs-especially if you have injury issues.